Amusement machine

Abstract

The invention relates to an amusement machine comprising a play area (3) for containing a plurality of small portable articles (30) which are accessible from above; a scoop means (4) remotely operable by a user of the machine for scooping articles from the play area (3) and transferring them directly or indirectly to a collection station (7); a sensor means (26) for detecting the amount of articles at the collection station (7); and a dispenser for dispensing a cash or non-cash prize in response to a signal from the sensor (26).

We claim: 
     
       1. An amusement machine comprising a play area (3) for containing a plurality of small portable articles (3) which are accessible from above; scoop means (4) remotely operable by a user of the machine for scooping articles from the play area (3) and transferring them directly or indirectly to a collection station (7); sensor means (26) for detecting the amount of articles at the collection station (7); a collector chute (5) close to the play (3) for receiving said plurality of articles (3) from the scoop means (4); a conveyor system(6) for receiving said plurality of articles from the collector chute (5) and transporting them into a collector hopper (7) which constitutes the collection station; and dispensing means for dispensing a cash or non-cash prize in response to a signal from the sensor means (26), wherein the scoop meams (4) comprises a rotatable member (17), ptoximal and distal arm members (18, 19) successively articulated to the rotatable member (17), and a scoop (2) articulated to an end of the distal arm member (19), to permit pivoting of the scoop (20) in one direction for picking up said plurality of articles (3) and in an opposite direction for emptying said plurality of articles (3) at the collection station (7). 
     
     
       2. An amusement machine according to claim 1, in which the small portable articles are balls (30). 
     
     
       3. An amusement machine according to claim 2 in which the prize is enclosed in a spherical capsule (31) and is dispensed into the play area (3), from which it may be retrieved by use of the scoop means (4).